(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) - The search for a new general manager continues for the Indianapolis Colts.

Team Owner Jim Irsay said via his twitter account that he expects to have interviewed at least seven candidates by the close of business today.

Irsay is looking to fill a vacancy created when he fired Vice Chairman Bill Polian and Vice President and General Manager Chris Polian one week ago. Irsay tells ESPN he hopes to have a new GM in place by midweek.

The new general manager is expected to have a say in whether or not the team retains Head Coach Jim Caldwell and his staff.

The Colts owner also denied a report on NBC that said he and Peyton Manning may be amenable to pushing back the March 8th date to pay Manning's 28-million-dollar option bonus.

A team official declined comment on another ESPN report that Irsay has decided to use the number-one overall pick in April's NFL draft on Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

Senior Director of Communications Avis Roper tells the Indianapolis Star that the team cannot comment on Luck as the junior quarterback is unable to declare himself eligible for the draft until January 15th at the earliest.